2nd Mountain Division

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL www.Patreon.com/Military1945 Original collection for sale This is an original collection that contains a nice 15-page-diary from a member of the Gebirgsjäger Regiment 136 that was part of the 2nd Gebirgs-Division. It describes in detail the units participation in Fall Weiss, the German invasion of Poland which took place on September 1, 1939. Along with the diary came a beautiful, large format map of the Eastern part of Germany and Poland. An interesting aspect of this unit is that just about a year before they were the Austrian Tiroler Jäger-Regiment, a formation with plenty of tradition and its loyalty pledged to another country. The diary begins on August 26, as the soldiers of the regiment are officially mobilized. This process is described in detail. The officers give specifics about how the campaign is to be waged including contact with the enemy, the treatment of captured enemy soldiers, civilians, personal hygiene etc. Called up reservists which double the size of the regiment are sworn in. On Aug. 29 Regiment 136 begins its journey by train eastwards on August 30 passing through Vienna. Crossing former Czech border a multitude of defensive positions and fortifications can be seen. One of the German landers has brought along a portable radio and on Sept. 1 the regiment listens to the Führer’s broadcast speech which attempts to justify the war. Close to the Polish border the soldiers get off the train and the days of marching begins. On September 3 at 16.00 hours they arrive to the border and the unit is ordered to be combat ready for the first time. The first bridge they arrive to has been blown and precious time is lost as pioneers build a pontoon bridge. At the second bridge a group of civilians is found hard at work preparing explosives to do the same. A quick decision is made and the lot of them are hung on the bridge and left as an example to others. In the next video we’ll talk about such war crimes and what the common soldier might have thought about them. Acts of kindness and respect are also described for example taking the time to burry fallen enemy soldiers honorably. As different cities and towns are passed through the civilians reacted differently. In typical Polish areas the city streets were largely empty and as the mountain troops marched through areas populated by Volksdeutsche, or ethnic Germans, they were wholeheartedly celebrated as liberators. Next, the lead element of the regiment comes into contact with the enemy resulting in the regiment’s first casualty. The days that follow contain descriptions that cover combat operations that the regiment was involved in. Significant are the descriptions of columns of captured soldiers and separated groups of detained Polish jews that are being lead by armed guards to the rear. In this diary entry and others it’s evident that the author finds it noteworthy but neither unusual nor worrying to see that the jews are being singled out for special treatment. On September 18, after 18 days of forced march the unit was given an entire days rest which included the cleaning of the weapons, washing and shaving, and lounging around and reading the newly arrived post. Continuing with the advance the following day the Regiment passes through the Polish city of Rudki which has been damaged extensively by street fighting, German artillery and bomber attacks. The importance of stopping the civilians from scavenging through the ruins is described. The farther east the unit marches the poorer the condition of the roads becomes and the soldiers are in a constant struggle to protect themselves from the clouds of dust. Progress is slow. On September 19th, Regiment 136 begins the long march towards Lemberg, or Lwow, and in the afternoon the main road that approaches the city from the south is reached. Traveling on this modern road they march 36 km and then make camp for the night, only 18 km from the city limits. Throughout the night the soldiers have trouble sleeping as strong barrages of artillery continued in the vicinity of the city. Early in the morning, before continuing with their march. The captain explains the type of street fighting that regiment should expect to encounter and then they make off. About 12 km outside of the city the unit comes into contact with Soviet soldiers. Orders arrive and the soldiers are surprised to learn that they are supposed to turn around and march back the way that they had come. By September 30 the unit had arrived to its new quarters in the city of Dynow on the San river where it would be responsible for doing occupation duty. This included controlling the movement of Polish refugees and Jews who were moving East out of Germany. Semi permanent quarters were confiscated which made sleeping much more comfortable than being out in the field, and the quality of food they were provided with improved. On 22 of October they were relieved of their occupational duties.

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL www.Patreon.com/Military1945 Original collections for sale https://filmhauer.net/originale-c-29.html Although usually of inferior quality, private footage like this gives us a peephole view into what the cameraman thought was worthy of filming. In the same way, entries into a soldier’s diary help us better understand how he felt about what was going on around him, in real time. Such private sources are less constrained by political correctness and devoid by historical revisionism. 26 August The entire unit has been called together at the Kaserne by the officers. When gathered the first sergeant declares that today is the first day of mobilization and that part of the company would be transferred immediately to Kufstein and Wörgel. It’s also announced that we should pack our private possessions so that they can be sent home. Non-essential clothing and equipment would be stored at the Kaserne storage facility. The first reservists that had been called up are already arriving, one wearing a Sunday suit, another, being a farmer is wearing his worn and dirty work clothes. However, in short order everyone is standing at attention, wearing the same German uniform and looking exactly the same. The company’s office staff is working at a feverish pace both day and night without a moment’s rest. 27 August Not only the reservists are arriving, the farmers from the region begin bringing in their horses to hand over. In effect, they’ve been called up too. All day long supplies are prepared and packed getting ready for our eventual departure. 28 August At 07.00 hours the company is assembled in the main square of the Kaserne; its size now being about twice as large as usual. Every detail is now double checked to make sure that all is in order. In the evening we are pleasantly surprised by being given free time and allowed to go to the small Tirolian city Imst. The few hours of freedom is spent drinking beer and wine, smoking, singing and dancing with the local girls. The time goes by far too quickly. When the clock strikes 11, the regiment gathers and returns to the Kaserne. 29 August The forth day of mobilization! The unit is gathered at 07.00 as usual. Captain Kreitmeyer informs us as to how we are to act with regard to the enemy and prisoners taken. Lieutenant Rupprecht speaks for an hour about enemy planes and our signal communications. The head doctor then talks about hygiene explaining how the soldier can best take care of himself in the field. New reservists are sworn in later that evening by torchlight. The company commander gives an inspirational speech which he ends with an emphatic Sieg-Heil salut to the Führer. At 20.00 the company gathers in the square to depart and then marches, singing, for the last time though the garrison town as the population looks on teary eyed and filled with apprehension watching the Mountain Troop company pass. At 21.00 the loading of the train in the Imst train station begins. One of the soldiers has had the presence of mind to bring along a portable radio. Within 15 minutes it is up and working which seems give the anxious soldiers confidence. The loading of the horses onto the cattle cars causes plenty of commotion. Almost the entire company is loaded onto the wagon marked “G”. 30 August The 3rd Company arrives from Landeck, and loads onto the train and at 04.00 the train begins to roll. The captain in charge of our transportation was named Brosoaky. This original map shows the borders after the German-Soviet Frontier Treaty was signed on September 28 1939 by Molotov and Ribbentrop. It superseded the original Molotov Ribbentrop agreement and formally set the spheres of influence of the two countries. We pass through Innsbruck, Zell am See, and then Bischofshofen where we are given lunch. Then on through Selztahl, Bruck and over Semmering. 31 August The trip continues without stopping eastwards passing Vienna and arriving to Marchegg which is a large border city between Greater Germany and Slovakia. There we are given provisions and have the chance to stretch our legs. Marcheqq is a large border city between Greater Germany (Grossdeutschen Reich) and Slovakia. Any last messages being sent home to the family would be mailed from here. Shortly after crossing the border defensive positions and bunkers can be seen in what was formerly known as Czechoslovakia. We pass through Pressburg, Tyrnau, Trentschin and and stop at Sillein which is our final destination. The local population greets us enthusiastically. They even go so far as to give us fruit, cigarettes and beer which is much appreciated by all. This map which is from a September 1939 magazine Die Wehrmacht shows Poland’s original borders. You can support this channel by buying the Die Wehrmacht collection which is actually a great investment.